Method and kit for the detection of bacterial species by means of DNA analysis

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the detection and identification of different bacterial species, all of which cause zoonosis, based on DNA analysis. More specifically, the invention provides the primers, probes, genes and genic regions required to apply a method for the simultaneous detection of bacteria and bacterial groups belonging to the genera  Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, Bartonella, Coxiella, Rickettsia  and  Francisella  based on Multiple PCR analysis by RLB (Reverse Line Blotting), in addition to providing a kit to carry out said analysis.

This application is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/ES2006/070082 filed Jun. 15, 2006, which claims the benefit of priority to Spanish Patent Application No. 200501481 filed Jun. 17, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/691,231 filed Jun. 17, 2005, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. The International Application was published in Spanish on Dec. 28, 2006 as WO 2006/136639.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the detection and identification of different bacterial species, all of which cause zoonosis, based on DNA analysis. More specifically, the invention provides a method and kit for the simultaneous detection of bacteria and bacterial groups belonging to the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, Bartonella, Coxiella, Rickettsia and Francisella based on DNA amplification.

BACKGROUND

To date, about 200 zoonotic diseases (bartonelosis, leptospirosis, Lyme borreliosis, etc.), which affect humans have been described. In third world countries, they represent one of the main causes of death and entail substantial economic loss. Coexistence with animals, lack of sanitary infrastructure and low cultural level continue to be the main allies of these diseases.

Certain types of zoonosis are now thriving in industrialized countries as a consequence of population increases in urban and periurban areas, and increased movement of animals across international borders, which entails the risk of introducing exotic diseases into the environment.

These circumstances, coupled with the frequent findings of arthropods infected by more than one of the pathogens included in the present invention, increase the possibility of more than one of the bacterial species included in the present invention being transmitted in a single sting.

As a result, hospitalizations due to medical profiles produced by human contact with animals or different classes of arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, lice, mites, etc., which act as vectors or pathogen reservoirs, is becoming increasingly common. Said medical profiles, due to their high degree of similarity, do not allow a fast and reliable identification of the pathogenous agent, so that specific and fast treatment is not possible and is occasionally administered too late. This undoubtedly justifies the need for a comprehensive detection method.

The diagnostic methods currently available are limited to detecting antibodies which, in general, is retrospective and of little use to treating patients in acute-phase states. Culture is not considered a diagnostic method, due both to its technological complexity, which excludes it from regular practice in hospital microbiology laboratories, and to the need for P3 facilities.

Molecular diagnosis by genome amplification by means of PCR represents a diagnostic option of great value. However, clinical samples of sufficient quantity for pathogen testing or the methodology required to carry out different tests are not always available.

A paper has recently been published (Blaskovic D. et al. 2005. Oligo-based detection of tick-borne bacteria. FEMS Microbiology Letters 243:273-8) which describes a method for the detection of 5 out of 6 pathogens proposed by the present invention. Said method is based on ribosomal DNA analysis and uses universal primers, which amplify the genetic material of both target and non-target bacteria, due to which its sensitivity is substantially reduced.

Other methods, such as those described by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,300,072 and 6,518,020, are capable of detecting and identifying bacteria of the genus Bartonella, by using the same DNA region (intergenic space 16S-23S). However, the number of species within this genus has increased substantially since said patents were filed and their approximation, which consists of discriminating between species according to the size of the amplicon obtained during PCR, is not useful for certain known species within the same genus which are similar in size to the amplified fragment.

While the method provided by the present invention also proposes using intergenic region 16S-23S for the detection of species belonging to the genus Bartonella, improvements have been introduced with respect to the previously described procedures, as it is capable of detecting a much wider range of species within the same and other genera, using completely new probes and primers with maximum sensitivity levels.

For the detection of Coxiella burnetii, the present invention uses the same primers and DNA region (insertion sequence IS1111) as the previously described methods. Said detection has been improved by combining it with another series of completely new tests aimed at identifying other bacterial species, which can be transmitted by the same vectors and also provide a new hybridization probe for the detection of Coxiella burnetii.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions: Multiple PCR or Multiplex PCR: PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a system whereby the number of copies of a specific nucleotide sequence of an organism is amplified or increased using two primers. Multiple PCR or Multiplex PCR is a variation of PCR which allows the simultaneous amplification of more than one target sequence using more than one pair of primers.

The present invention solves the problem of the tediousness and complexity of detecting a high number of bacteria that cause zoonosis which can be clinically and/or epidemiologically indistinguishable, through the development of a method and Kit for the simultaneous detection of bacterial species that cause zoonosis belonging to the genera: Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, Bartonella, Coxiella, Rickettsia and Francisella.

The solution found by the present invention includes simultaneously analyzing different bacterial DNA regions to determine which species are present in both cases. Specifically, the 16S rRNA gene is analyzed in order to detect the presence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Borrelia; intergenic space 23S-5S rRNA is analyzed to detect the presence of Rickettsia; the gene which codes for the precursor of the main membrane protein TUL4 is analyzed to detect the presence of Francisella; the transposase IS1111 gene is analyzed to detect the presence of Coxiella and intergenic space 16S-23S is analyzed to detect the presence of Bartonella.

According to the above, a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for the sample-based detection of bacteria, comprised of the following steps:

-   -   i) Placing the sample under analysis in contact with a reaction         mixture containing specific primers to carry out Multiplex PCR.     -   ii) Amplifying by means of polymerase chain reaction.     -   iii) Identifying the formation of the products in the previous         step, said information being indicative of the presence or         absence of zoonosis-causing bacteria.

In relation to this first aspect of the invention, said invention provides a method to simultaneously detect:

-   -   Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. bovis, A. equi, A. marginale, A.         centrale and A. ovis.     -   Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. Ewingii.     -   Bartonella henselae, B. quintana, B. clarridgeiae, B.         elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. vinsonii subspecies berkhofii, B.         vinsonii subspecies vinsonii, B. vinsonii subspecies         aurupensis, B. bacilliformis, B. alsatica, B. bovis, B.         doshiae, B. koehlerae, B. schoen-buchensis, B. taylori and B.         tribocorum.     -   All of the species belonging to the genus Borrelia.     -   Coxiella burnetii.     -   Any subspecies of Francisella turalensis, including F tularensis         subsp. tularensis, F. tularensis subsp. holarctica and F.         tularensis subsp. novicida which are jointly detected, and         variant 3523 of the same species and so-called endosymbionts of         different species of ixodides and argasides, which are detected         differentially.     -   The genus Rickettsia, and group that causes spotted fever and         the group that causes typhus, the species Rickettsia akari, R.         bellii, R. slovaca, R. conorii, R. aeschlimannii, R.         ricketsii, R. sibirica, R. helvetica, R. felis, R. australis, R.         prowazekii and R. typhy (R. mooserii).         all of which are capable of causing zoonosis, jointly infecting         an individual and being difficult to identify by simple         observation of medical profiles, based on the amplification and         analysis of the genes or specific genic regions presented in         Tables 1-6.

According to a specific embodiment of this first aspect of the invention, DNA fragments included or comprised within the sequences, the access numbers of which are shown in Tables 1-6 below, are amplified.

According to a more specific embodiment of this first aspect of the invention, the amplified regions have a size of between 99 and 686 nucleotides and contain variable regions used for identification. According to an even more specific embodiment of the invention, the variable regions contain or are included within sequences SEQ ID NO:55 to SEQ ID NO:93 or complementary sequences, the positions of which are shown in Tables 1 to 6.

According to another embodiment of this first aspect of the invention, the amplification products that allow different bacterial species and groups to be identified are detected by means of probes. According to a more preferred embodiment, said probes have a length of between 15 and 25 nucleotides. And, according to an even more preferred embodiment, the probes have sequences which comprise or are included within sequences SEQ ID NO:3-6; SEQ ID NO:9-24; SEQ ID NO:27; SEQ ID NO:30; SEQ ID NO:33-35; SEQ ID NO:38-51; or complementary sequences (Tables 1-6).

The primers can be designed by means of multiple alignment using computer programs such as CLUSTAL X, which allows the identification of highly conserved regions that act as moulds. According to another specific embodiment of this first aspect of the invention, the primers hybridize the genes indicated in Tables 1 to 6 below and particularly those with sequences with the access numbers shown in Tables 1-6 below. According to an even more specific embodiment, the primers have sequences which comprise or are included within SEQ ID NO:1-2; SEQ ID NO:7-8; SEQ ID NO:25-26; SEQ ID NO:28-29; SEQ ID NO:31-32; SEQ ID NO:36-37; or complementary sequences.

Brief explanation of the Tables:

-   -   Column 1 (organism) indicates the bacterial species or group of         bacterial species detected in each case.     -   Column 2 (gene) indicates the gene or genome region used to         detect the bacterial species or group of species in column 1.     -   Column 3 (primer) indicates the sequence of the pair of primers         required to carry out the amplification of variable gene regions         or genome regions indicated in each Table (column 2).     -   Column 4 (probe) indicates the sequence of the probes used to         detect the bacterial species or group of species referenced in         column 1 of each Table.     -   Column 5 (sequence 5′-3′) indicates the sequence references of         the variable regions which are amplified to detect each         bacterial species or group of species.     -   Column 6 (position 5′-3′):         -   The first row: indicates a sequence code relative to a gene             or genome region referenced in column 2, in addition to the             specific position of said sequence in which the primer is             hybridized (column 3).         -   The second to the last row of each Table indicate a sequence             code relative to a gene or genome region referenced in             column 2, in addition to the specific position of said             sequence to which the probe is joined (column 4).

TABLE 1 Anaplasma and Ehrlichia: sequence of each of the primers and probes used in the process and their relative position within gene 16S rRNA. ORGANISM GENE PRIMER PROBES SEQUENCE 5′-3′ POSITION 5′-3′ Anaplasma spp 16S SEQ ID 1  9-30 Ehrlichia spp (16S/AE-F) (U02521) SEQ ID 2 109-86  (16S/AE-R) (U02521) Anaplasma 16S SEQ ID 1 SEQ ID 3 SEQ ID 57 52-73 phagocytophilum (16S/AE-F) (S-PHA) (U02521) A. bovis SEQ ID 2  8-29 A. equi (16S/AE-R) (AF470698)  8-29 (AF172167) Ehrlichia 16S SEQ ID 1 SEQ ID 4 SEQ ID 58 51-71 chaffeensis (16S/AE-F) (S-CHA) (AF147752) SEQ ID 2 (16S/AE-R) E. ewingii 16S SEQ ID 1 SEQ ID 5 SEQ ID 59 46-66 (16S/AE-F) (S-EWI) (U96436) SEQ ID 2 (16S/AE-R) A. marginale 16S SEQ ID 1 SEQ ID NO 6 SEQ ID 60 53-71 A. centrale (16S/AE-F) (S-MCO) (AJ633048) A. ovis SEQ ID 2 72-90 (16S/AE-R) (AF414869) 72-90 (AF414870)

TABLE 2 Bartonella: sequence of each of the primers and probes used in the process and their relative position within intergenic space 16S-23S rRNA. ORGANISM GENE PRIMER PROBES SEQUENCE 5′-3′ POSITION 5′-3′ Bartonella spp. 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 494-515 (BAR/16-23F) (AF369527) SEQ ID 8 908-889 (BAR/16-23R) (AF369527) B. henselae 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 9 SEQ ID 61 793-814 (BAR/16-23F) (S-HENS) (AF369527) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R) B. quintana 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 10 SEQ ID 62 622-641 (BAR/16-23F) (S-QUIN) (AF368396) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. clarridgeiae 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 11 SEQ ID 63 512-531 (BAR/16-23F) (S-CLAR) (AF312497) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. elizabethae 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 12 SEQ ID 64 807-827 (BAR/16-23F) (S-ELIZ) (L35103) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. grahamii 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 13 SEQ ID 65 491-514 (BAR/16-23F) (S-GRAH2) (AJ269790) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. vinsonii berkhofii 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 14 SEQ ID 66 2242-2261 (BAR/16-23F) (S-VIN-B) (AF143446) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. vinsonii arupensis 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 15 SEQ ID 67 686-706 (BAR/16-23F) (S-VIN-A1) (AF442952) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. vinsonii vinsonii 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 16 SEQ ID 68 821-841 (BAR/16-23F) (S-VIN-A2) (AF312504) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. bacilliformis 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 17 SEQ ID 69 474-493 (BAR/16-23F) (S-BACI) (AJ422181) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. alsatica 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 18 SEQ ID 70 589-608 (BAR/16-23F) (S-ALS) (AF312506) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. bovis 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 19 SEQ ID 71 455-478 (BAR/16-23F) (S-BOV2) (AY116638) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. doshiae 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 20 SEQ ID 72 724-743 (BAR/16-23F) (S-DOSH) (AJ269786) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. koehlerae 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 21 SEQ ID 73 778-803 (BAR/16-23F) (S-KOE) (AF312490) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. schoenbuchensis 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 22 SEQ ID 74 446-466 (BAR/16-23F) (S-SCHO2) (AY116639) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. taylori 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 23 SEQ ID 75 655-673 (BAR/16-23F) (S-TAY) (AJ269784) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R B. tribocorum 16S-23S SEQ ID 7 SEQ ID 24 SEQ ID 76 692-713 (BAR/16-23F) (S-TRIB) (AF312505) SEQ ID 8 (BAR/16-23R

TABLE 3 Borrelia: sequence of each of the primers and probes used in the process and their relative position within gene 16S rRNA. ORGANISM GENE PRIMER PROBES SEQUENCE 5′-3′ POSITION 5′-3′ Borrelia spp. 16S SEQ ID 25 336-356 (BOF-3) (AJ224139) SEQ ID 26 567-547 (BOR) (AJ224139) Borrelia 16S SEQ ID 25 SEQ ID 27 SEQ ID 77 364-383 (BOF-3) (SG-BOR3) (AJ224139) SEQ ID 26 (BOR)

TABLE 4 Coxiella: sequence of each of the primers and probes used in the process and their relative position within insertion sequence (transposase) IS1111. ORGANISM GENE PRIMER PROBES SEQUENCE 5′-3′ POSITION 5′-3′ Coxiella Transposase SEQ ID 28 200-221 burnetii IS1111 (TRANS 1) (M80806) SEQ ID 29 885-865 (TRANS 2) (M80806) Coxiella Transposase SEQ ID 28 SEQ ID 30 SEQ ID 78 520-539 burnetii IS1111 (TRANS 1) (S-IS1111) (M80806) SEQ ID 29 (TRANS 2)

TABLE 5 Francisella: Amplified gene, sequence of each of the primers and probes used in the process and their relative position. ORGANISM GENE PRIMER PROBES SEQUENCE 5′-3′ POSITION 5′-3′ Francisella 17 kDa SEQ ID 31 593-617 spp. Tul4 (FT594) (M32059) SEQ ID 32 825-804 (FT827) (M32059) F. tularensis 17 kDa SEQ ID 31 SEQ ID 33 SEQ ID 79 658-680 Tul4 (FT594) (S-TUL) (M32059) SEQ ID 32 FT827 Variant 17 kDa SEQ ID 31 SEQ ID 34 SEQ ID 80 169-188 3523 Tul4 (FT594) (S-TUL3523) (AY243029) SEQ ID 32 FT827 Endosymbionts 17 kDa SEQ ID 31 SEQ ID 35 SEQ ID 81 533-553 Tul4 (FT594) (S-ENDOS2) (AY375423) SEQ ID 32 (FT827)

TABLE 6 Rickettsia: sequence of each of the primers and probes used in the process and their relative position within genes 238, 58 rRNA and within intergenic space 23S-5S rRNA. ORGANISM GENE PRIMER PROBES SEQUENCE 5′-3′ POSITION 5′-3′ Rickettsia 23S-5S SEQ ID 36  1-22 spp. (RCK/23-5-F) (AY125012) SEQ ID 37 388-367 (RCK/23-5-R) (AY125012) Generic 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 38 SEQ ID 82 51-71 (RCK/23-5-F) (SG-RICK) (AY125012) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) Spotted Fever 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 39 SEQ ID 83 123-141 Group (RCK/23-5-F) (SG-SFG) (AY125012) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. akari 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 40 SEQ ID 84 291.105-291.126 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-AKA4) (AAFE01000001) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. bellii 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 41 SEQ ID 85 2721-2743 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-BELLII) (U11015) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. slovaca 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 42 SEQ ID 86 194-211 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-SLO) (AY125009) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. conorii 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 43 SEQ ID 87 186-204 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-CON) (AY125012) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. aeschlimannii 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 44 SEQ ID 88 183-204 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-AESCH) (AY125016) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. rickettsii 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 45 SEQ ID 89 2814-2833 R. sibirica (RCK/23-5-F) (S-RI/SI) (U11022) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. helvetica 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 46 SEQ ID 90 360-342 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-HELV) (AY125017) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. felis 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 47 SEQ ID 55 186-207 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-FEL) (SEQ ID 55) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. australis 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 48 SEQ ID 56 230-249 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-AUS) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) Grupo Tifus 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 49 SEQ ID 91 2804-2827 (RCK/23-5-F) (SG-TG) (U11018) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. prowazekii 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 50 SEQ ID 92 2824-2846 (RCK/23-5-F) (S-PROW) (U11018) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R) R. typhi 23S-5S SEQ ID 36 SEQ ID 51 SEQ ID 93 188-211 (R. mooserii) (RCK/23-5-F) (S-TYPHI) (AY125019) SEQ ID 37 (RCK/23-5-R)

Given the abundance of PCR inhibitors, such as humic and fulvic acid, heavy metals, heparin, etc. which can produce false negatives and, despite the methods that exist to reduce the concentration of this type of molecules, we recommend (cf. J. Hoorfar et al., “Making internal Amplification control mandatory for diagnostic PCR” J. of Clinical Microbiology, December 2003, pp. 5835) that the PCR tests contain an Internal Amplification Control (IAC). Said IAC is no more than a DNA fragment which is amplified simultaneously with the target sample, in such a way that its absence at the end of the testing process indicates the presence of factors which have caused unwanted development of the PCR.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method similar to that described in the first aspect of said invention, including at least one IAC, preferably comprised of a DNA sequence of the Tetrahydrocannabinol Synthase gene of the Cannabis sativa species and, more preferably, of a sequence with access number AB183705.

According to a more preferred embodiment, a region of the AB183705 sequence is amplified, said sequence being included within SEQ ID NO:94 or complementary sequences (Table 7).

According to another preferred embodiment, the region is amplified by means of specific primers, the sequences of which comprise or are included within SEQ ID NO:52 and SEQ ID NO:53 or complementary sequences.

TABLE 7 Internal control: Amplified gene, sequence of each of the primers and probes used in the process and their relative position. ORGANISM GENE PRIMER PROBES SEQUENCE 5′-3′ POSITION 5′-3′ IAC THC SEQ ID 52 77-99 (Cannabis Synthase (CI-F) (AB183705) sativa) SEQ ID 53 447-427 (CI-R) (AB183705) Cannabis THC SEQ ID 52 SEQ ID 54 SEQ ID 94 281-302 sativa Synthase (CI-F) (S-CI2) (AB183705) SEQ ID 53 (CI-R)

Within the context of this description, the term “specific” implies that the primers comprise a nucleotide sequence fully complementary to the genes or genic fragments used by the present invention.

The term “variable regions” refers to DNA sequences which allow for the identification of the bacterial species and groups identified by the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, IAC amplification is detected by means of hybridization with probes. According to a more preferred embodiment, said probes have a length of 15 to 25 nucleotides. And, in an even more preferred embodiment, said probes have a sequence comprised or included in SEQ ID NO:54 or complementary sequences.

The method provided by the present invention allows for the detection of the aforementioned bacteria and bacterial groups, independent of sample origin. Said samples may be obtained from biopsies, scrapings, insects, biological fluids (blood, urine, saliva, etc.), field, etc. Once taken, the sample is pretreated in order to carry out Multiple PCR and subsequent amplicon identification.

The invention also provides diagnosis kits to apply the method described by the invention, which contain:

-   -   Specific primers with sequences: SEQ ID 1-2, SEQ ID 7-8, SEQ ID         25-26, SEQ ID 28-29, SEQ ID 31-32, SEQ ID 36-37 and optionally         SEQ ID 52 y 53 as IAC.     -   Probes with sequences: SEQ ID 3-6, SEQ ID 9-24, SEQ ID 27, SEQ         ID 30, SEQ ID 33-35, SEQ ID 38-51 and optionally SEQ ID 54         (S-Cl2) as IAC.

In the same way, said kits can include all the reactive agents required to apply any of the methods described. This includes, without any type of limitation, the use of buffers, polymerases, cofactors to optimize their activity, contamination-preventing agents, etc. On the other hand, the kits can include all of the supports and containers required for their startup and optimization.

The advantages of the present method and the kits with which to apply it include: speed (39 species and bacterial groups can be detected in less than 8 hours), specificity (the initiators used are specific to each species or bacterial group) and a high level of sensitivity.

Within the context of the specification description and claims, the word “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising”, does not intend to exclude other additives, components, constituent elements or stages. Both the examples and complementary drawings do not intend to limit the invention, but should rather be considered an aid to better understand it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Hybridization membrane showing the validation of primers, probes, and variable regions for the detection of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia (A), Borrelia (B), Francisella (C), Bartonella (D) and Coxiella (E) species, by means of specific probes (Tables 1-5). The S-Cl2 probe refers to the IAC probe (Table 7).

FIG. 2. A) Hybridization membrane showing the validation of primers, probes and variable regions for the detection of Rickettsia species; B) Hybridization membrane showing an example of simultaneous detection of species belonging to the 7 genera. In this example: A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale. E. chaffeensis, E. ewingi, B. henselae, B. burgdorferi, F. tularensis tularensis, R. conorii and R. prowazekii, tested at 10³, 10² and 10 equivalent genome/copies. In both cases (A and B) the S-Cl2 probe, which refers to the IAC probe (Table 7), is used.

FIG. 3. Hybridization membrane showing the results of a specificity study carried out within the indicated group of probes (Tables 1-7) on different species of bacteria, arthropods and mammals. The results reveal that the probes are not joined to the samples of the organisms tested in any case. The S-Cl2 probe refers to the IAC probe (Table 7).

EXAMPLE

The present invention is next described by reference to an example. The use of this and other examples anywhere in the specification is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified form. Likewise, the invention is not limited to any particular preferred embodiments described herein. Indeed, modifications and variations of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification, and can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the terms of the claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which the claims are entitled.

Alignments, Primer, and Probe Designs

Conserved regions were identified by comparing and aligning multiple sequences obtained from public databases such as Genbank, based on which specific primers were designed (Table 1-6) for use in Multiple PCR. The compatibility between primers, in addition to their optimal concentration, was empirically tested in the same manner as the magnesium salts and bovine serum albumin.

Variable regions were identified based on the selected sequence alignments, which allowed probes to be designed for the differentiation of bacterial species and genic groups (Tables 1-6) through RLB (Reverse Line Blotting) (Kaufhold A, Podbielski A, Baumgarten G, Blokpoel M, Top J, Schouls L. Rapad Typing of group-a streptococci by the use of DNA amplification and nonradioactive allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. FEMS Microbiology Letters 119: 19-25 (1994)).

A first specificity analysis of each of the probes was carried out by comparing its sequence against public databases (Genbank) using computer programs such as BLAST. Specificity was subsequently demonstrated by carrying out tests on a variety of DNA samples of different bacterial and eukaryotic species (FIG. 3).

DNA Culture Mediums and Isolation

The species and genic groups selected for identification were obtained from private collections: the Spanish Type Culture Collection (CECT) and/or sample bank available at the National Microbiology Center (CNM). All of the species analyzed are shown in Table 8.

The isolation of genetic material was carried out using well-known procedures within the art and available on the market (DNA Mini Kit, Qiagen, N. Reference: 51304).

TABLE 8 Origin of DNA used in the invention NATIVE DNA ORGANISM (origin) SYNTHETIC DNA * Anaplasma phagocytophilum X (1) A. marginale X (1) Ehrlichia chaffeensis X E. ewingii X Borrelia burgdorferi X (2) B. garinii X (2) B. afzelii X (2) B. lusitaniae X (2) B. jap{acute over (o)}nica X (2) B. hermsii X (2) B. parkeri X (2) Francisella tularensis tularensis X (3) F. tularensis subesp. holarctica X (3) F. tularensis subesp. Novicida X (3) Francisella variant 3523 X Francisella Endosimbiontes X Bartonella alsatica X (4) B. bacilliformis X (4) B. bovis X (4) B. clarridgeiae X (4) B. doshiae X (4) B. elizabethae X (4) B. grahamii X (4) B. henselae X (4) B. koehlerae X (4) B. quintana X (4) B. schoenbuchensis X (4) B. taylorii X (4) B. tribocorum X (4) B. vinsonii subesp. Arupensis X (4) B. vinsonii subesp. Berkhofii X (4) B. vinsonii subesp. Vinsonii X (4) Coxiella burnetii X (5) Rickettsia aeschlimannii X R. akari X (5) R. australis X (5) R. bellii X (5) R. conori X (5) R. felis X (5) R. Helvetica X (5) R. rickettsii X (5) R. sibirica X R. slovaca X (5) R. prowazekii X R. typhi X (5) Brucella melitensis X (6) Chlamydia pneumoniae X (7) C. psittaci X (7) Escherichia coli X (6) Legionella pneumophila X (8) Leptospira interrogans X (4) Micoplasma pneumoniae X (7) Ochrobactrum antropi X (4) Orientia tsutsugamushi X (5) Pseudomonas aeruginosa X (4) Salmonella enterica Typhi X (4) Streptococcus pneumoniae X (6) Treponema pallidum X (7) Ixodes ricinus X (9) Dermacentor marginatus X (9) Rhipicephalus sanguineus X (9) Apodemus sylvaticus X (9) Human DNA  X (10) Internal Control X Origin of Native DNA: (1): Positive sample. (2): Axenic culture medium, as described in: Benach J L, Coleman J L, and Golightly M G. 1988. A murine monoclonal antibody binds an antigenic determinant in outer surface protein A, an immunodominant basic protein of the Lyme disease spirochete. J. Immunol. 140: 265-72. (3): Axenic culture medium, as described in: Anda P, Segura del Pozo J, Diaz Garcia J M, Escudero R, Garcia Peña F J, Lopez Velasco M C, Sellek R E, Jimenez Chillaron M R, Sanchez Serrano L P, Martinez Navarro J F. 2001. Waterborne outbreak of tularemia associated with crayfish fishing. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 7 (Suppl): 575-82. (4): Composition of axenic culture mediums specific to each species available at: Jacomo et al. (2002) Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, 9 (1) 8-18. (5): Propagation in cellular cultures using the “shell vial” technique, as described in: Marrero M, Raoult D. 1989. Centrifugation-shell vial technique for rapid detection of Mediterranean spotted fever rickettsia in blood culture. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 40: 197-9. (6): “Mueller Hinton” agar culture enriched with 5% of ram blood. (7): DNA extracted from slides for indirect commercial immunofluorescence. (8): Axenic culture medium, as described in: Edelstein P H. 1981. Improved semiselective medium for isolation of Legionella pneumophila from contaminated clinical and environmental samples. J. Clin. Microbiol. 14: 298-303. (9): DNA extracted from pathogen-free specimens. (10): DNA extracted from clinical samples of patients with unrelated diseases. Synthetic DNA

Synthetic DNA was prepared according to the corresponding sequences listed in Tables 1 to 7 (Column 6), by means of consecutive elongation of the DNA chain by PCR, using primers with approximately 70 nucleotides, of which approximately 20 nucleotides interoverlapped.

Amplification, Hybridization and Validation

This step included the experimental analysis of the variable regions detected earlier using PCR for their validation. The isolated DNA was amplified using PCR (Saiki et al., (1985) Science 230, 1350; 1354), applying the following temperature cycle table and reaction mixture composition, together with the specific primers used previously for said purpose.

Temperature Cycles Temperature (° C.) Time Cycles 94 9′ 1 94 15″  60 1′ 40 65 4′ 65 7′ 1

Reaction mixture composition for a final volume of 50 μL:

H₂O: According to final DNA volume Buffer Taq Gold LD: 9 μL Cl₂Mg [3 mM]: 6 μL dNTPs [200 mM]: 1 μL × 4 BSA [0.8 ug/uL]: 4 μL 14 specific Primers (SEQ ID 1-2, 0.5 μL of each (7 μL) SEQ ID 7-8, SEQ ID 25-26, SEQ ID 28-29, SEQ ID 31-32, SEQ ID 36-37, SEQ ID 52-53) [50 pm/μL]: Taq Gold LD: 0.5 μL [2.5 units] Problem DNA: maximum 800 ng

The amplicons were sequenced for their validation, verifying that the amplified sequence coincided with the variable sequences inferred from bioinformatic studies. Subsequently, the amplicons were hybridized with specific probes according to the RLB protocol described by Sjoerd G. T. Rijpkema et al., Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 1995, p. 3091-3095, although applying the following modifications (FIGS. 1 and 2A):

Substrate: Super Signal West Dura (Pierce, Ref: 34075) Probes: used with a concentration of between 0.2 and 3.2 picomoles/microliter Incubation: at 55° C. Wash: at 52° C.

Hybridization results are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, where it is shown that each of the probes of the invention become joined specifically to the amplicons of each of the bacterial species detected using the method of the invention.

Preparation of Samples and Multiple PCR

One of the advantages of using PCR and RLB analysis-based identification systems is that pure bacterial cultures are not required. In this manner and upon validation of the primers and probes using DNA samples of the different species and subspecies listed in Tables 1-6, prepared following the procedures listed in Table 8 and analyzed in duplicate, a Multiple PCR-based analysis of a DNA control mixture prepared under laboratory conditions was carried out, followed by the RLB test, using the specifically designed primers and probes and the previously indicated temperature cycles and reaction mixture composition, the results of which are shown in FIG. 2B. In said figure it is shown that it was possible to carry out the simultaneous detection of the bacterial species present in the sample.

Detection of PCR Inhibitors

An internal amplification control (IAC), which was amplified together with the target DNA, was created for the detection of PCR inhibitors, using specific primers (Table 7) designed according to the conserved regions of the AB183705 sequence (Table 7) belonging to the THC synthase gene of the Cannabis sativa species. Specifically, the IAC amplicon corresponds to a sequence of 371 pairs of bases, for which a probe was also designed (Table 7) for detection during RLB analysis.

Specificity of the Method

The high specificity of this method is based on the specificity of the primers and their probes, which were tested with another series of organisms (Table 9), following the method described by the present invention, verifying that the formation of amplicons detectable by means of hybridization (FIG. 3) was not detected in any case.

TABLE 9 Specificity: unrelated species of bacteria, arthropods and mammals used in method development SPECIES RLB RESULT All All Bacteria All All 1 Brucella melitensis Negative 2 Chlamydia pneumoniae Negative 3 C. psittaci Negative 4 Escherichia coli Negative 5 Legionella pneumophila Negative 6 Leptospira interrogans Negative 7 Mycoplasma pneumoniae Negative 8 Ochrobactrum antropi Negative 9 Orientia tsutsugamushi Negative 10 Pseudomonas aeruginosa Negative 11 Salmonella enterica Typhi Negative 12 Streptococcus pneumoniae Negative 13 Treponema pallidum Negative Arthropods Negative 14 Ixodes ricinus Negative 15 Dermacentor marginatus Negative 16 Rhipicephalus sanguineus Negative Mammals Negative 17 Apodemus sylvaticus Negative 18 Human Negative

All references cited and/or discussed in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for the simultaneous detection of bacterial species that cause zoonosis belonging to the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Borrelia, Coxiella, Francisella and Rickettsia comprising the following steps: (a) placing a sample for analysis in contact with a reaction mixture containing specific primers SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 36 and 37, to perform multiplex polymerase chain reaction; (b) amplifying the sequences by means of polymerase chain reaction: and (c) detecting and identifying the amplification products formed in the previous step, said detection information being indicative of the presence or absence of zoonosis-causing bacteria.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bacterial species are: (a) Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. Bovis, A. equi, A. marginale, A. centrale and A. ovis; (b) Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. Ewingii; (c) Bartonella henselae, B. quintana, B. clarridgeiae, B. elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. vinsonii subspecies berkhofii, B. vinsonii subspecies vinsonii, B. vinsonii subspecies aurupensis, B. bacilliformis, B. alsatica, B. bovis, B. doshiae, B. koehlerae, B. schoenbuchensis, B. taylori and B. tribocorum; (d) species belonging to the genus Borrelia; (e) Coxiella burnetti; (f) any subspecies of Francisella turalensis, including F. tularensis subsp. tularensis, F. tularensis subsp. holartica and F. tularensis subsp. novicida which are jointly detected, and variant 3523 of the same species and so-called endosymbionts of different species ixodides and argasides, which are differentially detected; and (g) species belonging to the genus Rickettsia, the group that causes spotted fever, and the group that causes typhus; and the species Rickettsia akari, R. bellii, R. slovaca, R. conorii, R. aeschilmannii, R. ricketsii, R. sibirica, R. helvetica, R. felis, R. australis, R. prowazekii, and R. typhy (r. mooserii).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the simultaneous detection of the amplification products is carried out using one or more probes having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3-6, 9-24, 27, 30, 33-35, and 38-51.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the use of at least one internal amplification control.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the use of the internal amplification control comprises: (a) amplifying SEQ ID NO: 94 with specific primers; and (b) detecting the amplification product formed in the previous step.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein one or more of the specific primers has a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 52 and
 53. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the amplification product detection is carried out using the probe with SEQ ID NO:
 54. 